MUNICH â Oktoberfest 2026 is underway at Munichâs Theresienwiese, with FC Bayern figures joining the opening celebrations as the worldâs largest folk festival introduces new rides, tighter crowd controls and higher beer prices.
The 191st Oktoberfest opened at noon on Saturday, September 19, when Munich Mayor Dominik Krause tapped the first keg inside the Schottenhamel tent and delivered the traditional declaration, âOâzapft isâ â âIt is tapped.â The festival runs for 16 days through Sunday, October 4, and organisers expect roughly six million visitors.
Images shared on social media showed Bayern players and their partners in traditional lederhosen and dirndls. Local reports confirmed club captain Joshua Kimmich attended the opening with his wife, Lina, while Harry Kane marked the Wiesn weekend with a ceremonial keg-tapping appearance.
Kane arrived at the celebration after scoring twice in Bayernâs 7-0 Bundesliga victory over Union Berlin. The goals were his 100th and 101st for the club, giving the English striker another reason to raise a stein. Michael Olise scored a hat-trick in the same match, while Jamal Musiala and Ismael Saibari also found the net.
The football celebration connects with a long-standing Bayern tradition: the clubâs players, coaches and families regularly make an official team visit to the festival. For more on the teamâs domestic campaign, see this report on Bayernâs Bundesliga season and Harry Kaneâs scoring form.
What is new at Oktoberfest in 2026?
Visitors will find three debut attractions. Shake & Roll updates the classic Break Dance concept with free-moving gondolas capable of full flips. Fishermanâs is a new three-storey walk-through attraction built around a fishing-village theme and a 15-metre obstacle course. The most extreme addition, Chaos Pendel, carries riders as high as 42 metres and reaches speeds of up to 80 km/h.
The food-and-drink area has changed as well. Bartls FlĂśĂerstadl, a 398-seat tent inspired by Munichâs rafting history, has replaced MĂźnchner Stubn and is focusing on regional, organic and Fairtrade products. Bodoâs CafĂŠzelt has been rebuilt in timber with a gallery, a larger upstairs bar and live baking demonstrations. Christine and Lorenz Stiftl have also taken over the large Paulaner Festzelt.
Traditional brass music may now begin one hour earlier than before â at 11 a.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends, except opening day. Until noon, tents may play only traditional brass music. Officials say the longer music window is intended to spread visitor arrivals more evenly.
Other changes include the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower initiative, online wheelchair reservations and an accessibility upgrade to another festival street. The lost-and-found office has moved outside the grounds to the Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum and is open daily from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The festival covers 34.5 hectares. According to the official Oktoberfest guide, 478 businesses were admitted this year, including 36 food-and-drink operators, 243 amusement operators and 182 market traders.
Beer prices rise as security and medical support expand
A one-litre MaĂ of beer costs between âŹ14.80 and âŹ15.90 in 2026, compared with âŹ14.50 to âŹ15.80 last year. The city says the average increase is 2.38%. Käfer Wiesn-Schänke, one of the tents associated with celebrity and football visits, charges âŹ15.80. Prices are set by individual operators, although Munich checks whether they are reasonable. The full list is available on the official beer-price page.
Security has received particular attention following crowding problems in 2025. The city has created a new coordination centre, upgraded video monitoring and introduced dedicated crowd spotting. Additional vehicle barriers are being used at busy times, while backpacks and bags larger than three litres, glass bottles, knives and dangerous tools remain prohibited.
Medical provision now includes a second first-aid station at Familienplatzl, two on-site blood-testing devices and the return of a mobile CT scanner. Munich is also deploying additional emergency vehicles and reinforcing nearby fire stations during the event.
The opening images may focus on famous footballers and overflowing beer tents, but the biggest 2026 story is how Munich is trying to preserve the festivalâs familiar atmosphere while managing the pressure created by millions of visitors.
Source note: This report uses information published by the City of Munich, the official Oktoberfest website, FC Bayern-related coverage and opening-day reporting. Social-media images were treated as supporting material and not as sole confirmation of attendance.
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
